Latest 361 Squadron High Flyers

On the 11th November, Cadets Lumsden, Adamus, Elliott and Corporal Fletcher went flying in Grob Tutor T1 aircraft with 11 Air Experience Flight at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire. 

Cdt Nadine Lumsden

Cdt Akeesha Adamus

Cdt Brad Elliott

Cpl William Fletcher

For Cadets Lumsden and Adamus this was their first flight with the Air Cadet Organisation and they both were able to take control of the aircraft in the air and learn about the effects of the controls.

Cadet Elliott and Corporal Fletcher have both flown on previous occasions and they were able to carry out some aerobatics and experience what North Yorkshire looks like from an upside down aircraft!

Two New Corporals at 361 Squadron

Our final promotions for the present time are Cpl Hillier and Cpl Fraser-Denham who were recently presented with their stripes.

Our Newest Corporal

Congratulations to Cpl Kulik who has just joined the 361 Squadron NCO team.

Recent Promotions at 361 Squadron

Congratulations to our newly promoted NCOs who received their new ranks last night.

From left to right: Cpl Dawson, Sgt Lane, Cpl Cowie and Cpl Fletcher.

A Gold Star for 361 Squadron!

On the 11th August 2016, following an inspection by the North Region Health, Safety & Environment Advisor, 361 (Gateshead) Squadron was awarded a Gold Star Award for its contribution towards the Air Cadet Organisation Safety Management System.

The Gold Star is the highest level of award which can be achieved by an Air Cadet unit and our thanks to all those squadron members who made this possible.

High Flyers

On Wednesday, 29th June three cadets from 361 Squadron travelled to RAF Leeming for Air Experience Flying.

All three cadets had excellent flights in Tutor T1 aircraft and these included taking control of the plane as well as aerobatics for those cadets who enjoy being turned upside down!

 

 

 Pictured are Cadet Lee Irving, Corporal Luke Craig and Cadet William Fletcher before their flights.

New BTEC Awards

On Tuesday, 28th June Corporals Callum Tearney and Alan Klimczak were presented with their BTEC Level 2 in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community certificates. 

These awards are available to all cadets over the age of 16 at no cost to the individual concerned and are an internationally recognised qualification which are generally considered equivalent to 4 GCSEs at A* to C grade.

New 361 Squadron Minibus

With help from the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, we have recently purchased a replacement minibus for 361 squadron and today collected the vehicle following the application of the graphics and Air Cadet branding which make it stand out from the crowd. 

 
(In case you are wondering, the aircraft on the side of a minibus is a Lockheed Martin F35B Lightning II which will be the next generation of fighter flown by both the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm.)

The minibus will be used for a wide range of activities, including Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions, Adventure Training, visits to places of interest, transporting cadets to Wing competitions and much, much more.

This weekend, for example, a group of cadets will be travelling in the minibus for Shotgun Clay Pigeon Shooting which is a sport which is becoming increasingly popular within the Air Cadet Organisation.

High Flyers

On Wednesday, 15th June three cadets from 361 (Gateshead) Squadron travelled to RAF Leeming for Air Experience Flying in Grob Tutor T1 aircraft belonging to No. 11 Air Experience Flight.

Although the weather was a little murky all three cadets learnt about flying circuits of the airfield and experienced multiple touch and goes on the Leeming runway and their pilot was no less than the Station Commander of RAF Leeming, Group Captain David Bradshaw MA BSC RAF.

Pictured are Cadets Megan Hillier, Alex Mos and Mikolay Kulik in front of the new RAF Leeming Gate Guardian, a Tornado F3 which until recently was the mainstay of RAF Air Defence (but now replaced by the Typhoon).

90 Glorious Years

Last weekend, cadets from 361 (Gateshead) Squadron were involved in a series of events held in Newcastle and Gateshead celebrating the 90th birthday of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

On Saturday Cadets attended a concert at Newcastle City Hall which celebrated in music and dance the decades of the Queens reign whilst on Sunday a parade was held in the Gateshead Millennium Bridge (the Blinking Eye) which involved the Navy, Army and all three of the Cadet Forces as well as many other organisations from the Tyne and Wear area.

Click here to see the television coverage of these events which were broadcast by the Made in Tyne and Wear TV channel.

New Squadron Adventure Training Equipment

Members of 361 (Gateshead) Squadron with the recently acquired Adventure Training equipment which will allow cadets from the squadron to participate in Expedition section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award over the coming months.

The three tents, six rucksacks and roll mats were purchased with the help of a grant of £1000 from the Viscount Ridley North of England Cadet Forces Trust which is administered by the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for the North of England to whom we are extremely grateful.

New 361 Squadron Instructor Cadets

Cpl Callum Tearney, Sgt Jack Dawson and Cpl Luke Craig with their recently awarded Instructor Cadet Certificates and Lanyards. 

These are awarded after successful completion of a Method of Instruction course and a presentation demonstrating their instruction skills to Sqn Ldr Chris Miller, the Durham / Northumberland Wing Training Officer and qualifies them to instruct cadets at the squadron.

New 361 (Gateshead) Squadron Badge

Time for a change...

After many years of having a Bulldog on our squadron badge the time has come to introduce a new emblem which is more appropriate to our location in Gateshead.

Our new badge incorporates the Angel of the North- the massive iconic sculpture by Anthony Gormley which is seen by many thousands of motorists as they approach Gateshead from the South and a new squadron motto "Aspire & Achieve" which encompasses what the Air Cadet Organisation is all about.

The Angel of the North also has wings, which is more relevant to an organisation which aims to get its members flying. (Although we all hope that the Angel of the North itself remains firmly rooted to the ground...)

Recent Flyers

After a number of cancellations earlier this year due to poor weather, twelve cadets from 361 (Gateshead) Squadron have been flying with 11 AEF (Air Experience Flight) at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.

Flying took place on four different days in the last three weeks and cadets included a number of first time flyers as well as more experienced members of the squadron who experienced the thrill of aerobatics including loops, barrel rolls and stall turns. 

All cadets had the opportunity of taking control of the aircraft in the air to learn about the effects of the controls.

We've done it again!

At the recent Durham/Northumberland Wing Competitions Day, 361 squadron won the Banner Drill Competition for the fifth year in a row. (That is every year since Banner Drill was added as a competition in the Wing.)

The winning team consisted of Sgt Jack Dawson, Sgt Owen McPake, Cpl Ryan Vasey, Cdt William Fletcher and Cdt Sam Dawson who put on an excellent display of precision banner drill.

Method of Instruction Course

Two members of 361 (Gateshead) Squadron recently successfully completed a Method of Instruction (MOI) course where they learnt the skills required to successfully deliver training to other cadets in the squadron.

 Pictured are Sergeant Jack Dawson and Corporal Alan Klimczak with their MOI Certificates.

Latest 361 Squadron BTEC Awards

On Tuesday, 15th March six members of 361 (Gateshead) Squadron were presented with their BTEC Level 2 Certificates in Aviation Studies.

Corporals Tearney, Craig & Klimczak, Sergeants McPake & Dawson and ex Cadet Warrant Officer Hogg all gained these awards by achieving passes at all levels of the Air Cadet training syllabus and these BTECs are just one of the three that can be attained by cadets.

Latest Squadron Training Awards

On Thursday, 11th February three cadets from 361 squadron were presented with badges and certificates to mark the completion of the latest stage of their training.

Cpl Ryan Vasey (left) received his Senior Cadet award, whilst Cpl Alan Klimczak (centre) and Cpl Callum Tearney (right) were both presented with their Master Cadet classification which now qualifies these two cadets to receive a Level 2 BTEC in Aviation Studies.

New Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award

On Tuesday, 26th January, Sgt Jack Dawson was presented with his Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award Certificate and Badge.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award has three levels - Bronze, Silver and Gold - with increasing challenges at each level and to gain an award a young person has to complete: (a) A Physical Activity/Sport, (b) A Skills section, (c) A Volunteering project and (d) a Map Reading/Camping Expedition all of which become more difficult at each level of the award. (In addition at Gold level there is a requirement to attend a Residential activity.)

The Air Cadet Organisation is the largest Operating Authority for the Duke of Edinburgh Award and every cadet is encouraged to achieve, at least, a Bronze Award.

New Squadron First Aiders

Four members of 361 (Gateshead) Squadron were recently presented with their St John Ambulance Youth First Aid Certificates and Badges after completing a weekend course of practical training.

First Aid is a core subject in all cadet's training and every member of the Air Cadet Organisation will initially complete a British Heart Foundation HeartStart course which gives them the basic skills to carry out CPR before later progressing on to Youth First Aid training.

 

Pictured are (from left to right) Sgt Jack Dawson, Cdt Mikolaj Kulik, Sgt Owen McPake and Cdt Domna Collier with their Certificates and Badges.

Air Experience Flyers

On the 13th January, Cadets Corrigan, Irvine and Knaggs went Air Experience Flying at 11 AEF, RAF Leeming.

For Cdts Irvine and Knaggs it was their first flight in an RAF Tutor T1 two seat training aircraft and all three cadets had the opportunity to take the controls and pilot the plane in the air.

All cadets in 361 squadron have the opportunity to fly and if you would like to do the same then why not come and join us?

Health & Safety Cadet Entry Level Awards

On Thursday, 7th January 2016 twenty one cadets from 361 Squadron were presented with Health & Safety Cadet Entry Level Awards which recognised their knowledge of hazards and safety issues which can occur in both the workplace and when they are participating in a range of Air Cadet activities.

To qualify for these awards (which are jointly awarded by the Air Cadet Organisation and the British Safety Council), cadets have to complete a workbook which tests their knowledge of spotting possible safety hazards, how to avoid accidents as well as demonstrating a knowledge of the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Some of the cadets from 361 Sqn who recently qualified for Cadet Entry Level Awards

2015 Squadron Presentation Evening

On December 10th, 2015 the squadron held its Annual Presentation Evening at the Army Reserve Centre in Gateshead.

Cadets received a wide variety of awards which they gained throughout the year in front of of an audience of Parents and friends of the squadron who were also entertained by members of the squadron band.

Cadets Luke Craig, Alan Klimczak and Callum Tearney were also promoted to the rank of Corporal on the night and Corporals Jack Dawson and Owen McPake to the rank of Sergeant.

Pictured below are some of the cadets who received awards on the night.